SINGLE-CRYSTAL SILICON CARBIDE AND SINGLE-CRYSTAL SILICON CARBIDE WAFER - The present invention provides single-crystal silicon carbide and a single-crystal silicon carbide wafer of good-quality that are low in dislocations, micropipes and other crystal defects and enable high yield and high performance when applied to a device, wherein the ratio of doping element concentrations on opposite sides in the direction of crystal growth of the interface between the seed crystal and the grown crystal is 5 or less and the doping element concentration of the grown crystal in the vicinity of the seed crystal is 2×10

Composite Material and Method for Making - This invention relates to an improved method for making composite structures by dispersing a high tenacity fiber such as aramid in a polymeric matrix to form a premix, combining the premix with a natural fiber such as wood flour and extruding the resulting mixture through a fiber alignment plate and die such that the fibers are substantially aligned in the flow direction of the extrudate.

2011-08-25

20110206932

SURFACE-MODIFIED CARBON NANOTUBE AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - A carbon nanotube (CNT) is provided having micropores with a diameter of 1 to 10 nm in the side wall and in turn, having a large specific surface area. A production method of a surface-modified CNT (DMWCNT), comprises heating CNT having supported on the surface thereof a metal oxide or metal nitrate fine particle at a temperature of 100 to 1000° C., such as, 200 to 500° C., in an atmosphere containing oxygen. A cyclical solid phase oxidation-reduction reaction between the metal oxide and CNT occurs on the surface of the metal oxide fine particle supported on CNT, and carbon of CNT is oxidized to open a micropore. The metal oxide is preferably cobalt oxide, and the metal nitrate is preferably cobalt nitrate.

2011-08-25

20110206933

Electrically Insulating Thermally Conductive Polymer Composition - An electrically insulating highly thermally conductive resin composition includes (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyamide-based resin, and (B) 10 to 80 parts by weight of a long metal fiber including a metal comprising copper, nickel, aluminum, iron, chromium, molybdenum, an alloys thereof, or a combination thereof. The electrically insulating highly thermally conductive resin composition can exhibit high hardness and high strength as well as excellent electrically insulating and thermal conductivity properties, and can be useful for various molded products requiring high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical characteristics.

2011-08-25

20110206934

GRAPHENE FORMATION UTILIZING SOLID PHASE CARBON SOURCES - A method for forming a single, few-layer, or multi-layer graphene and structure is described incorporating selecting a substrate having a buried layer of carbon underneath a metal layer, providing an ambient and providing a heat treatment to pass carbon through the metal layer to form a graphene layer on the metal layer surface or incorporating a metal-carbon layer which is heated to segregate carbon in the form of graphene to the surface or chemically reacting the metal in the metal-carbon layer with a substrate containing Si driving the carbon to the surface whereby graphene is formed.

2011-08-25

20110206935

(METH)ACRYLATE/ASPARTATE AMINE CURATIVES AND COATINGS AND ARTICLES COMPRISING THE SAME - (Meth)acrylate/aspartate amine curatives comprising the reaction product of a polyamine, a dialkyl maleate and/or dialkyl fumarate, and a (meth)acrylate are disclosed, as are methods for making the same. A polyurea comprising the reaction product of the acrylate/aspartate amine curative and isocyanate is also disclosed, as are coatings comprising such a polyurea and substrates coated with the same.

2011-08-25

20110206936

ARTICLE HAVING ANTIFOULING PROPERTIES FOR AQUATIC AND PARTICULARLY SEA USE - An article having antifouling properties and intended to be employed in aquatic uses, in particular marine uses, which comprises: a) a support, b) optionally, at least one primer coat on said support comprising at least one anticorrosive product, c) optionally, at least one intermediate primer coat promoting adhesion between the coats, d) at least one adhesion-promoting coat or tie coat, deposited on said primer coat or on said support when the primer coat is absent, and e) at least one antifouling coat or topcoat, deposited on said adhesion-promoting coat or tie coat.

COPPER-BASED SLIDING MATERIAL - Provided is a copper-based sliding material including a steel back-metal layer and a Cu alloy layer. The Cu alloy layer contains, by mass %, 10 to 30% of Bi, 0.5 to 5% of an inorganic compound, and the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The Cu alloy layer may further contain 0.5 to 5% of Sn and/or at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, P and Ag in a total amount of 0.1 to 10%. The inorganic compound has an average particle size of 1 to 5 μm and a specific gravity of 70 to 130% relative to the specific gravity of Bi. Bi phase is formed in the Cu alloy layer in an average particle size of 2 to 15 μm, and the Bi phase is dispersed in the Cu alloy layer and isotropic.

2011-08-25

20110206940

WORKPIECE ARRANGEMENT - A workpiece arrangement includes at least two join regions of at least one workpiece that are joined together by a material-to-material connection seam. The material-to-material connection seam covers only a portion of a first of the at least two join regions. A thermal insulation device is disposed in an area of the material-to-material connection seam and corresponds to the first of the at least two join regions.

2011-08-25

20110206941

COPPER-TIN ALLOY, COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND USE THEREOF - The invention relates to a copper-tin alloy, comprising 0.2 to 0.8% by weight Sn, 0.1 to 0.6% by weight Ni and/or Co, 0 to 0.05% by weight Zn, 0 to 0.2% by weight Fe, 0.008 to 0.05% by weight P, and also Cu as remainder. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding composite material having a base material made of such an alloy and also to suitable uses thereof. The technological and physical properties are comparable with those of a CuFe2P alloy. However, the alloy according to the invention and also a tin-plated composite material made thereof can be readily recycled.

METHODS FOR CREATING SIDE-BY-SIDE METALLIC BONDS BETWEEN DIFFERENT MATERIALS USING SOLID-PHASE BONDING AND THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED THEREBY - Methods of producing composite products formed between at least two different metal structures in a side-by-side configuration are provided. The method includes providing at least two structures made of different materials that are not compatible for welding or conventional cladding processes. A geometric profile is provided in at least one of the edges of the first structure, and a corresponding mirror image of the geometric profile is provided in a corresponding edge of the second structure. The two structures are positioned together so that the profiled edge or edges form a complimentary composite structure and are then solid-phase bonded to form a composite product. The process may be repeated with additional structure at either end of the first or second structure to achieve multiple side-by-side products. The methods and corresponding products provided herein yield edge to edge products suitable for various electrical connection type applications.

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CARBON NANOTUBE-, FULLERENE- AND/OR GRAPHENE-CONTAINING COATING - A method for producing a carbon nanotube-, fullerene- and/or graphene-containing coating on a substrate includes the steps of applying carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and/or graphenes onto a tin-containing coating and introducing carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and/or graphenes into the coating by mechanical and/or thermal treatment. A coated substrate produced by this method and the use of the coated substrate as an electromechanical component or lead frame are also described.

COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND BATTERY PACK CONTAINING COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A communication device includes a first JK flip-flop (FF) outputting a first output signal in response to a first input signal at a J-input and a reversed signal of the first input signal at a K-input, and a second JK FF outputting a second output signal in response to a second input signal at a J-input and a reversed signal of the second input signal at a K-input. A clock input to a NAND gate (

2011-08-25

20110206950

ENERGY STORAGE UNIT, PARTICULARLY ACCUMULATOR - The building of energy storage, particularly accumulators have a plurality of storage elements such as electrochemical cells, condensers, BatCaps, and the like, out of similar elements connected to one another, is known. It is disadvantageous that the storage elements largely have either distinct high-energy properties or high-power properties. A potential improvement lies in the overall performance of the energy storage, and in optimally adjusting energy inputs to output power. An energy storage is proposed, particularly an accumulator, having a plurality of storage elements. At least two strands of storage elements are connected in parallel, each strand including at least one storage element of a certain type, differing from the type of the other strand. The energy storage according to the invention is intended for accumulator-driven or battery-drive electric tools and vehicle batteries, particularly for electric drives.

2011-08-25

20110206951

HYBRID VEHICLE BATTERY HEATER BY EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION - An exhaust gas recirculation circuit with an engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, a heat exchanger having an inlet in selective fluid communication with the exhaust manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with the intake manifold, wherein the heat exchanger is in a heat exchange relationship with at least a portion of a battery. A method of managing a battery of a hybrid vehicle by sensing a temperature of the battery; comparing the sensed temperature with a lower threshold; if the battery temperature is less than a lower threshold, flowing exhaust gasses from an engine to a heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship with at least a portion of the battery; if the battery temperature is greater than the lower threshold, utilizing the battery.

2011-08-25

20110206952

DETERMINATION SYSTEM AND DETERMINATION METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER METAL LITHIUM IS PRECIPITATED IN A LITHIUM ION SECONDARY BATTERY, AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE DETERMINATION SYSTEM - A determination system for determining whether metal lithium is precipitated in a lithium ion secondary battery includes: a discharging unit that causes the lithium ion secondary battery to perform constant current discharge until a voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery becomes a voltage corresponding to a predetermined low state of charge; a natural increase acquisition unit that acquires a natural increase in voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery after the constant current discharge is terminated; and a precipitation determining unit the compares the acquired natural increase with a predetermined threshold, that determines that the metal lithium is not precipitated when the natural increase is larger than or equal to the threshold, and that determines that the metal lithium is precipitated when the natural increase is smaller than the threshold.

2011-08-25

20110206953

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERY - A method for controlling a plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries that, in an interconnected system in which a power generation device that fluctuates in output and an electric power storage-compensation device are combined to supply power to an electric power system, are each included in the electric power storage-compensation device and compensate for output fluctuations of the power generation device, is provided. When one sodium-sulfur battery of the plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries reaches a discharge end, the sodium-sulfur battery reaching the discharge end is charged from a sodium-sulfur battery other than the sodium-sulfur battery reaching the discharge end. When one sodium-sulfur battery of the plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries reaches a charge end, the sodium-sulfur battery reaching the charge end is discharged to charge a sodium-sulfur battery other than the sodium-sulfur battery reaching the charge end.

2011-08-25

20110206954

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES - When charge power or discharge power of each individual sodium-sulfur battery included in a plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries becomes 1/n (n is a natural number) or less of a rated output, individual sodium-sulfur batteries are sequentially stopped. This prevents the discharge power (or the charge power) of the sodium-sulfur battery from becoming minute, so that a battery depth (or a stored energy) of the sodium-sulfur battery can be accurately managed.

2011-08-25

20110206955

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERY - In a method for controlling a sodium-sulfur battery, a time of correcting or resetting a depth of discharge of the sodium-sulfur battery is determined within a predetermined period based on weather information, and the depth of discharge of the sodium-sulfur battery is corrected or reset in the determined time. According to this sodium-sulfur battery control method, the depth of discharge of the sodium-sulfur battery can be accurately managed in a small-scale interconnected system.

2011-08-25

20110206956

ROUND CELL BATTERY - A round cell battery comprising a stack of substantially cylindrically-shaped electrically conductive grid plates and two or more bus bars. One or more of the bus bars is electrically connected to outer rims of a set of alternating ones of the grid plates in the stack and to a positive voltage post of the battery. A different one or more of the bus bars is electrically connected to outer rims of a different set of alternate ones of the grid plates in the stack and to a negative voltage post of the battery.

2011-08-25

20110206957

Rechargeable battery - A rechargeable battery includes a battery case surrounding an electrode assembly. The battery case may include a cap plate having a vent hole, the cap plate being attached to the battery case, a vent plate disposed over and covering the vent hole, and a member protruding from an area of the cap plate surrounding the vent hole, the vent plate being on the member.

INTEGRAL MANIFOLD - A method of forming passages of an integral manifold adjacent a cell stack of a flowing electrolyte battery provides enhanced sealing between the manifold and capillary tubes of the cell stack. The method includes forming a mould cavity adjacent the cell stack, with the mould cavity open to capillary openings of cells of the cell stack. A plurality of pins are then located in the mould cavity, with end regions of the pins being contiguous with the capillary openings. The mould cavity is then filled with material and the material is allowed to solidify into a moulded section. The pins are then removed from the moulded section, thereby forming passages in the moulded section which are in fluid communication with the capillary openings.

2011-08-25

20110206961

RAPIDLY RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - Design of a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is constructed of a plurality of high surface area, gas adsorbing electrodes and an electrolyte, wherein, during charging operation, gases are formed and adsorbed at the plurality of electrodes such that they generate an electrochemical potential for discharge of the cell formed by electrodes and electrolyte until the state-of-charge has become negligible (deep discharge). The rapidly rechargeable gas battery is designed such that it can withstand high charging current and a deep discharge without irreversible changes in the electrode materials.

2011-08-25

20110206962

NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An aspect of the invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a flattened electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate containing lithium transition metal composite oxide as positive electrode active material, and a negative electrode plate containing carbon material able to insert and extract lithium ions as negative electrode active material, are stacked and wound with a separator interposed therebetween, and a protective layer constituted of inorganic oxide and an insulative binding agent provided on a surface of the negative electrode plate. The arithmetic mean surface roughness Ra of a face of the separator that contacts with the protective layer is 0.40 to 3.50 μm. With the invention, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is obtained that has enhanced formability of the flattened electrode assembly and superior output characteristics and other battery characteristics.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR A BATTERY ASSEMBLY - A cooling assembly for a battery assembly including at least one conduit and at least one cooling plate, the conduit having a flexible portion to facilitate a relative movement between an inlet end and an outlet end thereof to selectively expand and contract the cooling assembly, and the cooling plate including a flow channel formed therein, wherein at least one battery cell is disposed adjacent and in heat transfer communication with the at least one cooling plate to transfer heat from the at least one battery cell to a fluid disposed in the flow channel.

DEVICE FOR COOLING A VEHICLE BATTERY - A device for cooling a vehicle battery is provided that includes a plurality of electric storage elements, and a cooling body being flowed through by a coolant fluid, wherein at least one of the electric storage elements is fixed at least on one cooling plate in thermal contact, and wherein the cooling plate is connected to the cooling body so that heat may be transferred from the storage element to the fluid, wherein the cooling plate has a planar mechanical connection to the cooling body.

2011-08-25

20110206967

BATTERY COOLING/HEATING STRUCTURE AND BATTERY MODULE - A battery cooling/heating structure having a plate that is brought into contact with a battery to cool and heat the battery, including a medium pipe of plural arrays that are arranged substantially in parallel on the plate and through which refrigerant medium flows to cool the battery, each of the plural arrays having a straight portion, and a heater that is disposed between the straight portions of the plural arrays of the medium pipe and to which current is supplied to heat the battery through the plate, the medium pipe and the heater being integrally arranged within the same plane of the plate.

2011-08-25

20110206968

ASSEMBLED BATTERY SYSTEM - The assembled battery system according to the present invention includes at least two non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, each including a positive electrode that occludes and emits lithium ions, a negative electrode that occludes and emits lithium ions, and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising an electrolyte dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, all received in a parallelepiped cell case. These cells are arranged so that each larger area side of an adjacent pair of the parallelepiped cell case faces in parallel one another. A cooling member with a cooling medium flow conduit is provided between each opposing pair of larger area cell case sides, and cooling medium flowing in this conduit directly contacts the sides of the parallelopiped cell cases that define the two opposite sides of the cooling conduit.

2011-08-25

20110206969

Overmolded Thermal Interface for use with a Battery Cooling System - A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is overmolded onto the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube and are interposed between the cooling tube and the first row of cells, and interposed between the cooling tube and the second row of cells, where the pliable fingers are deflected by, and in thermal contact with, the cells of the first and second rows of cells.

POWER STORAGE DEVICE SEPARATOR - Provided is a power storage device separator that is realized in the form of a heat-resistant, solvent-resistant, and dimensionally stable thin film. Also provided is a power storage device separator that can be realized in the form of a thin film which has excellent ion permeability and low resistance, which makes short-circuiting between electrodes and self-discharging difficult to occur, and in addition, which has excellent durability even after long periods of use under high temperature environments in the presence of organic solvents and ionic solutions.

ELECTRODE AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - An electrode includes a collector formed with a conductive resin layer and an active material layer formed on the conductive resin layer. The active material layer comprises an active material and a binder polymer, and the conductive resin layer is bonded by thermal fusion bonding to the active material layer.

2011-08-25

20110206975

NON-AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY AND BATTERY MODULE - A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a substantially rectangular battery case for housing the electrode assembly and the non-aqueous electrolyte. The thickness α, the width β, and the height γ of the battery case satisfy the relation α

2011-08-25

20110206976

ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND SECONDARY BATTERY USING THE SAME - An embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode tabs is made more compact inside an exterior case and a secondary battery using the same. An electrode assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of first plates of a first polarity; a plurality of second plates of a second polarity alternately arranged with the first plates; at least one of a plurality of first tabs or a plurality of second tabs extending from the first plates or the second plates, respectively, the at least one of the plurality of first tabs or the plurality of second tabs being together wound or bent more than once; a plurality of separators interposed between the first plates and the second plates; and a lead physically coupled to at least one of the first tabs or the second tabs.

INTERCONNECTION WASHER ASSEMBLY FOR A BATTERY ASSEMBLY - A battery module having a washer assembly includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each of the cells includes at least one terminal. A circuit board includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the apertures is configured for receiving a terminal of one of the plurality of electrochemical cells. A plurality of flat washers are coupled to the circuit board. An inner diameter of each of the washers is aligned with a central axis of each of the apertures of the circuit board and is configured to receive the associated terminal. The circuit board is configured to allow the plurality of washers to be substantially simultaneously conductively coupled to the terminals of the plurality of electrochemical cells.

ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE AND SYSTEM - An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber. The housing and the plurality of solid electrolyte elements together may be configured to define a second volume devoid of solid electrolyte elements and that is sufficient in size to accommodate a desired number of solid electrolyte elements and to provide an accessible cathodic chamber filling point and that is further sufficient in size to alter the volume of the cathodic chamber with respect to the volume of the plurality of anodic chambers to achieve a desired volumetric ratio between the cathodic and anodic chambers.

2011-08-25

20110206981

LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY - A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode in which a positive electrode mixture layer including a positive electrode binder and a positive electrode active material containing particles of a lithium transition metal composite oxide represented by a chemical formula Li

2011-08-25

20110206982

LITHIUM ION SECONDARY BATTERY - A lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery generally comprises an electrode assembly, a container for accommodating the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly comprises two electrodes having opposite polarities and a separator. The separator comprises a porous membrane comprising clusters of ceramic particles. The porous membrane is formed by bonding the particle clusters with a binder. Each particle cluster is formed either by sintering or by dissolving and re-crystallizing all or a portion of the ceramic particles. The ceramic particles comprise a ceramic material having a band gap. Each particle cluster may have the shape of a grape bunch or a lamina, and may be formed by laminating scale or flake shaped ceramic particles.

2011-08-25

20110206983

ALKALINE BATTERY - An alkaline battery including a positive electrode of a hollow cylindrical shape disposed in contact with an inner surface of a bottomed cylindrical battery case, a gelled negative electrode, a separator, and an alkaline electrolyte. The separator includes a cylindrical separator disposed in contact with the inner side surface of the positive electrode, and a bottom separator covering an opening of the cylindrical separator in the bottom side of the battery case. The bottom of the battery case includes: an annular base portion for supporting the positive electrode; an annular intermediate portion provided inwardly of the base portion, for supporting the bottom separator; and a terminal portion protruding outwardly from the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has an inclined surface on the inner bottom surface of the battery case, the inclined surface being inclined downwardly from the base portion toward the terminal portion.

2011-08-25

20110206984

PRESEALED ANODE TUBE - A pre-sealed anode tube assembly for a sodium-metal-halide energy storage device includes an anode tube and a feed-through current collector assembly at least partially sealed within the anode tube. The pre-sealed anode tube assembly can be independently transported prior to being integrated with a desired sodium-metal-halide energy storage device.

2011-08-25

20110206985

LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Although a larger battery and higher filling of an active material are essential to produce a high capacity battery, a longer time is required for permeation of an electrolytic solution at this case. An electrode membrane formed on the surface of a electrode is configured as an electrode membrane structure combining a mixture layer in which density of an active material is high while the electrolytic solution is difficult to permeate because of small void size and a mixture layer in which an electrolytic solution is easy to permeate while density of an active material is low because of large void size. Permeation time of an electrolytic solution can be reduced in a manner that the mixture layer having large void size acts as a supply path for the electrolytic solution.

2011-08-25

20110206986

NEGATIVE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY AND RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY INCLUDING THE SAME - A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery including a flake powder including a plurality of flakes, each flake including a plurality of silicon atoms and a plurality of oxygen atoms, wherein an oxygen atom amount for each flake ranges from 5 wt % to 38 wt % based on a total amount of silicon atoms and oxygen atoms, each flake having a thickness ranging from 30 nm to 500 nm and a ratio of an average longest dimension to the thickness ranging from 10 to 100.

2011-08-25

20110206987

NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, LITHIUM BATTERY EMPLOYING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE NEGATIVE ELECTRODE - A negative electrode, a lithium battery employing the negative electrode, and a method of preparing the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer disposed on the current collector. The negative electrode active material layer includes: composite negative electrode active material particles comprising tin (Sn), and conductive metal particles. The conductive metal particles form an intermetallic compound with the Sn, and an average particle size of the conductive metal particles is at least 10 μm.

2011-08-25

20110206988

LITHIUM ION BATTERY - An object of the present invention is to provide a lithium ion battery which is excellent in properties at large current and can be applied to applications requiring high output power even when the mixture layers are made thick. The present invention provides a lithium ion battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture layer formed on a current collector, a negative electrode including a negative electrode mixture layer formed on a current collector and an electrolyte, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being disposed through the intermediary of a separator, wherein the positive electrode includes as a positive electrode active material a lithium composite oxide represented by LiNi

2011-08-25

20110206989

Method for Producing Composite Lithium Iron Phosphate Material and Composite Lithium Iron Phosphate Material Produced by Same - A method for producing a composite lithium iron phosphate material, which comprises formulating lithium iron phosphate material and purified water at a weight ratio of 1:5-15 into a suspension solution, slowly adjusting the pH value of the suspension solution to 1-3 with phosphoric acid at a concentration of 5-30%, adding an analytically pure soluble chloride in an amount of 0.05-2% based on the molar amount of the lithium iron phosphate material; then adding ammonia water into the solution to adjust the pH value of the solution to 5-6 to obtain hydroxide colloid; drying liquid through spraying to prepare powder, and calcining at 300-450° C. for 3-6 hours under an inert atmosphere; coating the oxide with high conductivity obtained by thermally decomposing the hydroxide colloid on the surface of the lithium iron phosphate material grains; ball milling and sieving the calcined material into a finished product. Also disclosed is the composite lithium iron phosphate material produced by such a method.

2011-08-25

20110206990

SINTERED LITHIUM COMPLEX OXIDE - A sintered lithium complex oxide characterized in that the sintered lithium complex oxide is constituted by sintering fine particles of a lithium complex oxide, the peak pore size giving the maximum differential pore volume is 0.80-5.00 μm, the total pore volume is 0.10-2.00 mL/g, the average particle size is not less than the above-specified peak pore size but not more than 20 μm, there is a sub-peak giving a differential pore volume not less than 10% of the maximum differential pore volume on the smaller pore size side with respect to the above-specified peak pore size, the pore size corresponding to the sub-peak is more than 0.50 μm but not more than 2.00 μm, the BET specific surface area of the sintered lithium complex oxide is 1.0-10.0 m

2011-08-25

20110206991

TITANIUM OXIDE-BASED COMPOUND FOR ELECTRODE AND LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY USING THE SAME - The present invention provides a novel titanium-based composite oxide being usable as an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery and having a high capacity and an excellent cycle stability, a method for producing the same and a lithium secondary battery using the titanium-based composite oxide. Disclosed is a compound obtained by compositing titanium oxide with elements other than titanium, specifically a titanium-based composite oxide wherein the relevant chemical formula is Ti

2011-08-25

20110206992

POROUS STRUCTURES FOR ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - The present invention relates to porous structures for energy storage devices. In some embodiments, the porous structure can comprise sulfur and be used in electrochemical cells. Such materials may be useful, for example, in forming one or more electrodes in an electrochemical cell. For example, the systems and methods described herein may comprise the use of an electrode comprising a conductive porous support structure and a plurality of particles comprising sulfur (e.g., as an active species) substantially contained within the pores of the support structure. The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that, in some embodiments, the sizes of the pores within the porous support structure and/or the sizes of the particles within the pores can be tailored such that the contact between the electrolyte and the sulfur is enhanced, while the electrical conductivity and structural integrity of the electrode are maintained at sufficiently high levels to allow for effective operation of the cell. Also, the sizes of the pores within the porous support structures and/or the sizes of the particles within the pores can be selected such that any suitable ratio of sulfur to support material can be achieved while maintaining mechanical stability in the electrode. The inventors have also unexpectedly discovered that the use of porous support structures comprising certain materials (e.g., metals such as nickel) can lead to relatively large increases in cell performance. In some embodiments, methods for forming sulfur particles within pores of a porous support structure allow for a desired relationship between the particle size and pore size. The sizes of the pores within the porous support structure and/or the sizes of the particles within the pores can also be tailored such that the resulting electrode is able to withstand the application of an anisotropic force, while maintaining the structural integrity of the electrode.

GEL POLYMER ELECTROLYTES FOR BATTERIES - Nanostructured gel polymer electrolytes that have both high ionic conductivity and high mechanical strength are disclosed. The electrolytes have at least two domains—one domain contains an ionically-conductive gel polymer and the other domain contains a rigid polymer that provides structure for the electrolyte. The domains are formed by block copolymers. The first block provides a polymer matrix that may or may not be conductive on by itself, but that can soak up a liquid electrolyte, thereby making a gel. An exemplary nanostructured gel polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10

2011-08-25

20110206995

THICKENING AGENT FOR ALKALINE BATTERY, AND ALKALINE BATTERY - Provided are a thickening agent for an alkaline battery, which can satisfactorily retain long-term discharge characteristics (discharge quantity and discharge time) and provide excellent impact resistance, and an alkaline battery used therewith. In the invention, the thickening agent for an alkaline battery comprises (A) a crosslinked polymer comprising, as essential constituent units, (a1) a water-soluble vinyl monomer and/or (a2) a vinyl monomer being converted into (a1) by hydrolysis, (b) a hydrolyzable crosslinking agent undergoing alkaline hydrolysis, and (c) a non-hydrolyzable crosslinking agent not undergoing alkaline hydrolysis, wherein (b) and (c) each has a content of 0.05% to 1% by weight based on the weight of (A), and satisfies Requirements (1) and (2) described below: Requirement (1): the weight ratio (b)/(c) between (b) and (c) is from 1.0 to 5.0; Requirement (2): a specific solution (S1) has a viscosity of 25 to 100 Pa·s at 25° C.

2011-08-25

20110206996

TREATED ELECTROLYTIC MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION - A method for preparing treated electrolytic manganese dioxide and a battery including the treated electrolytic manganese dioxide as an electrode are provided. The method for treating the electrolytic manganese dioxide includes suspending milled electrolytic manganese dioxide in an aqueous solution heated to a temperature between ambient and boiling, and adjusting an acidity of the aqueous solution to a pH of less than 3.3. The method further includes agitating the suspended milled electrolytic manganese dioxide in the aqueous solution for a predetermined amount of time to dissolve metal-containing particulates in the milled electrolytic manganese dioxide.

RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY - A rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive electrode including a positive active material and an activated carbon, a negative electrode including a negative active material, and a lithium salt and a non-aqueous organic solvent, wherein the non-aqueous organic solvent includes about 30 volume % to about 90 volume % of propylene carbonate.

2011-08-25

20110206999

NON-AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION FOR LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY AND LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY COMPRISING THE SAME - Disclosed are a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery comprises a silicon-based compound represented by a specific chemical formula and having both a hydroxyl group and a hydrocarbon group having a carbon-carbon double bond. When it is applied to a lithium secondary battery, the non-aqueous electrolyte solution improves deterioration of cycle life characteristics occurring after repeated charge/discharge cycles and prevents swelling phenomena by suppressing a decomposition reaction of an electrolyte solution even when a battery in a fully charged state is stored at high temperature or is charged/discharged, thereby enhancing the life characteristics at high temperature.

2011-08-25

20110207000

Nitrile additive for non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable electrochemical cells - An electrochemical system is provided by the present invention which includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; an electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent; and a nitrile component in the electrolyte. A preferred nitrile component is an aromatic nitrile. Also described is a process for inhibiting electrolyte decomposition wherein an initial cycle is performed on an inventive electrochemical system such that a solid-electrolyte interphase forms on the anode, inhibiting electrolyte decomposition.

2011-08-25

20110207001

RECHARGEABLE ZINC-AIR BATTERY - Herein is disclosed a rechargeable zinc-air battery characterised in that the anode consists of essentially spherical copper particles covered by a layer of zinc.

2011-08-25

20110207002

Integrated Hydromethanation Fuel Cell Power Generation - The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating electrical power from certain non-gaseous carbonaceous feedstocks through the integration of catalytic hydromethanation technology with fuel cell technology.

POROUS FLOW FIELD PLATE FOR MOISTURE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL IN A FUEL CELL - A flow field plate for use in a fuel cell includes a porous, wettable plate body including a first reactant gas channel having an inlet portion, a second reactant gas channel having an outlet portion that is adjacent the inlet portion of the first reactant gas channel, and at least one moisture reservoir fluidly connected with pores of the porous, wettable plate body. The at least one moisture reservoir can selectively collect and release moisture received from a reactant gas in the outlet portion to thereby selectively move the moisture from the outlet portion toward the adjacent inlet portion.

METHOD OF GENERATING HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL USING THE METHOD - A method of generating hydrogen, the method including: reducing carbon dioxide to generate carbon monoxide and oxygen; separating the oxygen from the carbon monoxide; generating carbon dioxide and hydrogen by a water-gas shift reaction between water and the carbon monoxide remaining after the separating the oxygen from the carbon monoxide; and separating the generated carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

2011-08-25

20110207007

SYSTEM TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN GAS FUEL - The present invention relates to hydrogen gas fuel. More particularly, the invention relates to a system to produce hydrogen gas fuel from water source or waste water source or a combination thereof, a system for producing hydrogen gas fuel from water source or waste water source or a combination thereof to supplement an internal combustion engine (

2011-08-25

20110207008

INDUCTION FOR THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Induction for thermochemical processes, and associated systems and methods. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes placing first and second substrates in a reactor, with each substrate having a surface facing toward the other. Method can further include directing a precursor gas into the reactor and activating an induction coil proximate to the facing surfaces of the substrates to dissociate the precursor gas. A constituent of the precursor gas is deposited on both the first and second surfaces, and heat radiated from each surface and/or a constituent deposited on the surface is received at the other surface and/or the constituent deposited on the other surface.

2011-08-25

20110207009

METHOD OF PRESERVING POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL STACK AND PRESERVATION ASSEMBLY OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL STACK - Provided is a method of preserving a PEFC stack, which is capable of controlling degradation of performance of the PEFC stack during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in an uninstalled state until it is placed in an installation position and is practically used. Provided is a preservation assembly of the PEFC stack which is capable of sufficiently inhibiting degradation of performance of the PEFC stack particularly during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in the uninstalled state until it is placed in the installation position and is practically used. A method of preserving a PEFC stack that is provided with an oxidizing agent passage (

2011-08-25

20110207010

Relative Humidity Control For A Fuel Cell - A model uses various operating characteristics of a fuel cell to predict the relative humidity profile that is occurring within the fuel cell as a function of the reaction progress. The model is used to predict the relative humidity profile that will occur in response to changes to one or more of the operating characteristics of the fuel cell. A high frequency resistance of the fuel cell can also be used as a measure that is indicative of the humidity within the fuel cell. The model and/or the high frequency resistance can be used in a closed-loop feedback system to control the operation of the fuel cell to maintain the humidification of the MEA and fuel cells within a desired range to achieve a desired fuel cell performance.

2011-08-25

20110207011

FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is disclosed a fuel cell system capable of stably operating auxiliary devices driven at a high voltage and the like, even in a case where a poisoned electrode catalyst is recovered or a fuel cell is warmed up. On detecting that the electrode catalyst is poisoned, a controller derives a target operation point which is sufficient for recovering an activity of the poisoned electrode catalyst. Then, shift of the operation point from a usual operation point to a low-efficiency operation point is realized so that an output power is held to be constant.

2011-08-25

20110207012

METHOD FOR DETECTING ORIFICE FLOW PHASE TRANSITION IN A PRESSURE-CONTROLLED ANODE - A fuel cell system that determines the phase transition from water to gas through a bleed/drain valve in a water separation device. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side. An injector injects hydrogen gas into the anode side of the fuel cell stack. The water separation device receives an anode exhaust gas from the anode side of the fuel cell stack, where the water separation device includes a water holding reservoir. A controller controls the injector and the bleed/drain valve and determines when the bleed/drain valve transitions from draining water to bleeding the anode exhaust gas by comparing the flow rate through the water separation device and the flow rate through the injector.

FUEL CELL MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes an anode electrode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane. A ratio of a pore volume occupied by pores with a pore size of 0.1 μm or less is 70% or more in a pore volume occupied by pores with a pore size of 3 μm or less formed in the anode electrode catalyst layer. The polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between the anode electrode catalyst layer and the cathode electrode catalyst layer.

DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL - The invention relates to a direct oxidation fuel cell. The invention intends to provide a fuel cell having good fuel utilization efficiency and good power generation performance such as voltage produced and power generation efficiency by suppressing the phenomenon of the fuel supplied from the fuel flow channel passing through the electrolyte membrane and being oxidized at the cathode. The direct oxidation fuel cell of the invention includes at least one unit cell which includes: a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; an anode-side separator, and a cathode-side separator. The anode-side separator has a fuel flow channel for supplying a fuel to the anode. The anode has an anode catalyst layer including anode catalyst particles and a polymer electrolyte. The loading density of the anode catalyst particles in the anode catalyst layer is higher upstream than downstream of the fuel flow channel.

SOLID POLYMER FUEL CELL - A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, the separators each including linear reaction gas channels defined by linear channel ribs, a reaction gas supply manifold hole, and a reaction gas discharge manifold hole; and an inlet gas distribution section for connecting the reaction gas supply manifold hole and the reaction gas channels, wherein the inlet gas distribution section includes n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) distribution ribs for partitioning the inlet gas distribution section into a plurality of spaces, the distribution ribs each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linear reaction gas channels, the distribution ribs each having two or more slits provided therein, the slits being in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the linear reaction channels, when, among the distribution ribs, the distribution rib positioned closest to the reaction gas supply manifold hole is considered as a first distribution rib and the distribution rib positioned closest to the reaction gas channels as an nth distribution rib, and when, among the spaces, the space positioned between the first distribution rib and the reaction gas supply manifold hole is considered as a diffusion space, and an average of sectional areas of the diffusion space, the sectional areas taken along the longitudinal axis of the reaction gas channel and along the normal to the separator's surface, is larger than a sectional area of any of the slits of the first distribution rib, the sectional area taken along the longitudinal axis of the distribution rib and along the normal to the separator's surface.

SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL HAVING RIGIDIZED SUPPORT INCLUDING NICKEL-BASED ALLOY - A fuel cell includes a separator sheet and a perforated support sheet connected to the separator sheet. The perforated support sheet and separator sheet are comprised of a nickel-based alloy. A porous layer is located between the separator sheet and the support sheet and provides an electrical connection between the separator sheet and the support sheet.

2011-08-25

20110207021

FUEL CELL ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE - An electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes a fluorine polymer electrolyte having a sulfonic acid group, and a copolymer which includes at least an aromatic ring and a cyclic imide that is condensed or not condensed with the aromatic ring, and in which an aromatic repeating unit having a structure in which the aromatic ring and the cyclic imide are bonded together directly or by only a single atom, is linked with a siloxane repeating unit having a structure that includes a siloxane structure.

2011-08-25

20110207022

HIGH TORTUOSITY DIFFUSION MEDIUM - A diffusion medium for use in a PEM fuel cell including a porous spacer layer disposed between a plurality of perforated layers having variable size and frequency of perforation patterns, each perforated layer having a microporous layer formed thereon, wherein the diffusion medium is adapted to optimize water management in and performance of the fuel cell.

2011-08-25

20110207023

COMPRESSOR SYSTEM WITH A FREEWHEELING EXPANDER - A fuel cell system is disclosed that employs an expander for recovering mechanical energy from a cathode exhaust fluid produced by the fuel cell system to generate torque. The expander is coupled to a shaft of a compressor with a freewheel mechanism, wherein the freewheel mechanism transfers the torque from the expander to the compressor when a rate of rotation of a driveshaft of the expander is greater than the rate of rotation of the shaft of the compressor, and selectively militates against the expander acting as a restrictor to the shaft of the compressor when a rate of rotation of the driveshaft of the expander is substantially equal to or less than a rate of rotation of the shaft of the compressor.

2011-08-25

20110207024

FUEL CELL STACK DISCRETE HEADER - A fuel cell system comprises a main body including a first partial header and a fastening point. The main body is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of plates forming a fuel cell stack, allowing a single plate design to be used for multiple fuel cell stack lengths having a large differential of energy requirements, affording a durable alignment mechanism for the fuel cell stack, and providing integration flexibility for components and configurations of the fuel cell system.

FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE ASSEMBLY - A fuel cell bipolar plate assembly is revealed. The bipolar plate assembly includes a bipolar plate and a diffusion member. The bipolar plate consists of at least an inlet, at least an outlet, and a flow channel. The flow channel further includes at least one storage area used for disposition of the diffusion member made of porous material. The fuel of the fuel cell is distributed uniformly due to excellent permeability of the porous material. Moreover, by the design of zoning, the efficiency of fuel at corners is improved. Thus the fuel efficiency is increased and the fuel cell efficiency is further improved.

2011-08-25

20110207027

HYDROGEN SUPPLY TANK, AND HYDROGEN SUPPLY APPARATUS, HYDROGEN SUPPLY METHOD AND HYDROGEN-CONSUMING DEVICE USING THE SAME - Disclosed is a hydrogen supply tank including at least one hydrogen-generating container mounted thereto, wherein the hydrogen-generating container receives a hydrogen-generating material capable of heat emission and dehydrogenation under heating, and has a hydrogen discharge path that allows discharge of the generated hydrogen, on the wall surface thereof; the tank has a plurality of divided sections formed therein; the hydrogen-generating container is mounted to each section; and the hydrogen supply tank stores the hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen-generating container and supplies the hydrogen to external sites. Disclosed also are a hydrogen supply apparatus, a hydrogen supply method and a hydrogen-consuming device using the same.

2011-08-25

20110207028

Method for Producing an Anion-Exchange Membrane for a Solid Polymer Electrolyte Type Fuel Cell - An anion-exchange membrane having quaternary ammonium groups or quaternary phosphonium groups wherein halogen ions serve as the counter ions is obtained. Rather than being subjected to ion exchange with an OH-type membrane using a toxic substance such as sodium hydroxide, the halogen-type anion exchange membrane is brought into contact with a carbonate solution and/or bicarbonate solution to directly obtain an anion exchange membrane where at least some of the counterions of the quaternary ammonium groups or quaternary phosphonium groups are CO